Sara Duterte’s early 2028 bid may favor rivals – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s early declaration of her 2028 presidential bid could give an advantage to her future opponents and expose her to tough questions over allegations of threats against officials and misuse of confidential funds, according to Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.

Abante, who sponsored the fourth impeachment complaint against the vice president, made the remark when asked about Duterte’s announcement that she will run for president in 2028, amid renewed efforts by some House lawmakers to pursue her impeachment.

READ: Abante to Sara Duterte: Presidential bid is not defense vs impeachment

“But 2028 is still a long way off, more than two years from now. That’s why I said her early announcement might be a blessing in disguise for whoever runs against her. Secondly, it would expose the vice president to many questions she should be answering,” the Manila lawmaker said in a Saturday news forum.

Meanwhile, former Albay Rep. Joey Salceda — who campaigned for Duterte during the 2022 polls — said the vice president’s early announcement was a “misguided gamble” that “leaves a bad taste in the mouth.”

“Marcos will still be president until June 2028. I once worked with her, but this time around, I think it’s not overacting to say that it is an ill-advised move. I think it is a misguided gamble,” said Salceda in the same forum.

“In 2022, I was promoting Sara for the presidency. You can go back to your files. I think I would have wanted that there should be a clamor for her. Let the people proclaim you,” he added.

Although Duterte made her announcement on Feb. 18, Abante emphasized that the impeachment complaints focus on her current role as vice president, not her future presidential bid, stressing that candidacy announcements do not absolve her of accountability for ongoing allegations.

Apart from the one sponsored by Abante, three separate impeachment complaints were already filed against Duterte earlier this month. The first petition, lodged on Feb. 2 by progressive groups endorsed by the House Makabayan bloc, cited alleged misuse of confidential funds and other high crimes.

The second complaint, submitted the same day, was led by a coalition of civil society leaders, including Tindig Pilipinas convenor Kiko Aquino Dee and religious figures, and was joined by Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. 

Both complaints accuse Duterte of constitutional violations, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, abuse of power, tolerance of extra-judicial killings, and misuse of billions in confidential and intelligence funds.

On Feb. 9, a third impeachment complaint was lodged by members of the clergy and some members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, led by lawyer Armando Ligutan and endorsed by de Lima.

The recent complaints come after the Supreme Court denied with finality the House of Representatives’ appeal to overturn its July 25, 2025, ruling, which had declared previous articles of impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional.

These filings also follow a previous impeachment complaint last year, on Feb. 5, 2025, when 215 members of the 19th Congress signed a fourth petition against her. That complaint stemmed from an investigation by the House committee on good government and public accountability of the alleged misuse of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte headed from 2022 to 2024. /das